THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF
ARTICLES ABOUT THE SKYROCKETING
GROWTH THAT IS TAKING PLACE IN ST.
PETERSBURG’S EMERGING COMMERCIAL
DISTRICTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE EDGE DISTRICT
Nowhere in St. Pete is progress more evident than in
the Edge District, where a dazzling amount of new
development is underway. Located just west of downtown,
next to Tropicana Field, the home of the Tampa
Bay Rays, the Edge District is booming. According to
Executive Director Barbara Voglewede, this part of
town has an interesting place in St. Pete’s early history.
While the story of how Russian exile Peter Demens
brought the Orange Beltway Rail Line to St. Pete is
well known by local history buffs, few people are aware
of the important role that the Edge District played in
the city’s development. The southeast corner of the
Edge was the terminus for the railroad and the center
developed. Sawmills, lumberyards, livestock farms and
repair shops, tire stores and service stations.
Skyrocketing Growth
As a testament to St. Pete’s creative spirit, many of
those early auto shops have been transformed into
trendy locally owned restaurants, giving the currentday
Edge District its reputation as a foodie haven—the
place where locals go for great food and socializing.
Voglewede points out there are now 23 restaurants in
this seven-block area. That doesn’t include the 14 boutique
shops, small independent businesses and all of
the new residential development bringing young professionals
to the area.
“In the last year there’s been a $75 million investment
in the Edge District,” says Voglewede. Two
the drawing board for this fast-growing part of town.
In June, permitting began for one of the hotels, which
will be part of the Marriott’s Tribune Collection of
boutique hotels. Plans call for a vintage mid-century
Two of the most distinctive new business additions
to the Edge District are Intermezzo Coffee and Cocktail
and Webb’s City Cellar. Jarrett Sabatini, a 25-year-old
entrepreneur and graduate of the University of South
Florida St. Petersburg, launched Intermezzo originally
as a pop-up concept, but expanded the concept to
a permanent venue that includes a unique outdoor
area with 23 royal palm trees, sunshades and beach
sand—a fun twist on a downtown urban hangout.
"Community
DNA", sculpture
by Catherine
Woods. Located in
the Edge District.
Green Bench Brewing company, a locally owned
craft beer microbrewery, introduced Webb’s City Cellar
last year, creating an upscale over-21 pub named after
Doc Webb’s Department Store, a landmark St. Pete
store touted as the world’s most unusual drug store.
At one time Doc Webb’s comprised seven city blocks
downtown and was a major tourist attraction. A back
corner of Webb’s City Cellar is reserved for production
of Green Bench’s new line of ciders and meads, including
small-batch estate meads that are produced a few
times a year using local honey from the brewery’s two
rooftop bee apiaries.
Beautiful Public Art
St. Petersburg’s commitment to public art is also evident
in the Edge District, which not only includes a
half dozen or more colorful urban street murals, but
also 10 recently commissioned sculptures by artist
James Brenner. The sculptures are made of sculpted
jade green glass and stainless steel with LED lighting
and can found around the perimeter of the district.
“It’s great to see the project come to completion,”
says Voglewede. “The design pays tribute to our district’s
edgy, industrial heritage. The statues are really
gorgeous – the light up at night with LED lighting that
changes color and illuminates the glass. “
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